UI P3 allocations support facility upgrades, faculty recruitment and retention

IOWA CITY — Continuing a change enacted last year in how the University of Iowa doles out income generated through a “Strategic Initiatives Fund” — created by way of its $1.165 billion public-private utilities partnership four years ago — administrators last week said they’ll reserve nearly $8 million for distribution on a rolling basis over the coming year “to address emerging needs and opportunities as they arise.”

The fund — which started with an initial investment of $985.9 million in 2020 and has swelled to a market value of $1.14 billion as of March 2024 — was created with the intention of annually distributing about $15 million in grants and gifts across campus for “scientific research and educational activities.”

That has included spending on facility upgrades and faculty compensation — including another $4 million contribution in the new budget year toward a five-year-old “High Impact Hiring Initiative,” created through P3 funding in the 2021 budget year to hire and retain high-performing faculty.

By way of facilities spending, one third of last year and this year’s combined $30 million in P3 funding has been spent or earmarked for infrastructure updates.

Facilities upgrades

Of the $5 million the university last year directed toward facility and infrastructure upgrades — $3 million supported an effort to move its Department of Dance from the aging Halsey Hall to the Performing Arts Annex and about $2 million went into classroom upgrades.

The university made the same $5 million infrastructure commitment this year — amounting to a third of its annual P3 $15 million distribution — including another $3 million to continue the dance department relocation and another $2 million for additional classroom improvements.

“Classrooms were equipped with accessible furniture designed for height adjustability, ease of use, mobility, and comfort, ensuring that more students, regardless of physical abilities, have opportunities to participate in class,” according to a UI Strategic Plan update on last year’s classroom improvements, which involved new tables, chairs, and tablet armchairs in 77 classrooms.

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The updates increased flexibility for group and individual activities, fostering a “more active and engaging learning environment.” They also enhanced safety with the installation of electronic access systems and emergency lockdown buttons in 38 classrooms.

Building on those upgrades, this year’s $2 million classroom infrastructure commitment aims to update furniture in 43 more classrooms; install power door openers in 16; add height-adjustable instructor stations in 80 classrooms; and improved accessibility in 42 classrooms.

By way of safety, emergency lockdown buttons will be added to eight more classrooms and auditoriums.

“These changes are paving the way for more successful educational outcomes and a stronger academic experience for all students,” according to the UI Strategic Plan update.

Faculty recruitment, retention

Similar to last year, the university again this year is holding back some of the $15 million in endowment proceeds earmarked for distribution annually — in hopes of having money available to back initiatives that emerge over the course of the year.

In the budget year that just ended June 30, the UI Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee — responsible for considering and approving funding applications — chose to fund nine projects from its $7.4 million reserve pot, including $5.5 million for its “high impact hiring initiative.”

As of May, UI reported spending $12 million on 60 high-impact hiring requests — including 41 faculty recruitments across 10 colleges and faculty-retention efforts across six colleges.

And with this year’s $7.8 million in reserved strategic-fund dollars, the action and resource committee has designated more than half, at $4 million, to continuing that same faculty recruitment and retention initiative.

“Providing continued funding for this successful initiative will support growth and sustainability in strategic areas, impacting educational, research, and artistic endeavors, and increasing the university's profile through enhanced tuition, research revenues, patient care excellence, and philanthropic support,” according to the university’s explanation of the funding distribution.

AI journey

Two other initiatives approved for a total of $1.4 million from those reserve funds are geared toward helping UI take its “first steps” in its artificial intelligence “journey.” One aims to integrate AI into teaching, learning, and research across campus — enhancing student, staff, and faculty success.

“It focuses on proactive engagement with AI advancements to manage risks and challenges, streamline processes, and support innovative activities across campus,” according to the funding committee, reporting the second half aims to foster collaboration and innovation in AI research and outreach.

In addition to those reserved funds, the committee for this new budget year chose to fund two of 13 preliminary applications for P3 funding — amounting to a combined $2.2 million.

The first, awarded $1.3 million over three years, is an initiative to leverage the university’s Operator Performance Laboratory and its research aircraft — along with its airborne and ground-based sensors — to study the impact of climate change in the Midwest.

“The project will create innovative, interdisciplinary research and educational opportunities across campus, providing a foundation for training the next generation of Earth scientists while enhancing Iowa’s competitiveness for grant funding from agencies such as NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation,” according to a UI summary of this year’s grant recipients.

The second, awarded $902,890 over one year, aims to expand the impact of the Iowa Health Data resource — which was established by a previous P3 award in 2022 for $2.2 million over three years. This year’s additional funding will complete the initiative to create health-related data sets and tools “that protect confidentiality while providing access to health information for research purposes.”

Prior to funding distributions approved for the new 2025 budget year, the university had allocated a total of $61.4 million across campus out of the P3-created endowment since its inception in 2020.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com